AIR349 - Diplomacy and the United Nations
Unit details
| Year | 2026 unit information |
|---|---|
| Enrolment modes: | Trimester 2: Burwood (Melbourne), Waurn Ponds (Geelong), Online |
| Credit point(s): | 1 |
| EFTSL value: | 0.125 |
| Unit Chair: | Trimester 2: Andrew Thomas |
| Prerequisite: | Nil |
| Corequisite: | Nil |
| Incompatible with: | Nil |
| Educator-facilitated (scheduled) learning activities - on-campus unit enrolment: | 1 x 1-hour on-campus lecture per week 1 x 1-hour on-campus seminar per week |
| Educator-facilitated (scheduled) learning activities - online unit enrolment: | 1 x 1-hour online lecture per week (recordings provided) 1 x 1-hour online seminar per week |
| Typical study commitment: | Students will on average spend 150-hours over the teaching period undertaking the teaching, learning and assessment activities for this unit. |
Content
This unit challenges you to put yourself in the shoes of a diplomat and negotiate a multilateral agreement at the United Nations. The unit explores the nature of diplomacy in a globalizing world and investigates the forms and effectiveness of a range of political and policymaking efforts to address current issues in world politics.
Throughout the unit, students work in small groups representing an assigned nation to establish a national position on a number of key issues and negotiate with other groups. These diplomatic efforts culminate in the Model United Nations Summit towards the end of the unit.
The unit will be delivered via a series of lectures, workshops and participation in a Model United Nations Summit (on-campus or online).
Learning outcomes
Each unit in your course is a building block towards Deakin's Graduate Learning Outcomes - not all units develop and assess every Graduate Learning Outcome (GLO).
| ULO | These are the Unit Learning Outcomes (ULOs) for this unit. At the completion of this unit, successful students can: | Alignment to Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes (GLOs) |
|---|---|---|
| ULO1 | Analyse a range of policymaking contexts in contemporary transnational diplomacy in the form of Intergovernmental Organisations, Non-Governmental Organisations, and State Governments | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities GLO2: Communication GLO4: Critical thinking |
| ULO2 | Evaluate and devise systemic responses to key diplomatic concerns in world politics from a variety of perspectives, taking into account systemic and political barriers to solutions to global problems such as inequality, conflict, the global environment and more. | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities GLO4: Critical thinking GLO5: Problem solving |
| ULO3 | Critically assess arguments from a number of sources in order to make an independent evaluation of the questions posed by the unit and to construct convincing arguments that are systematic, logically coherent and evidence based. | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities GLO2: Communication GLO5: Problem solving |
| ULO4 | Apply the conventions of academic communication (written, verbal and online), as reflected in clear and accessible writing and presentation as well as professional conduct in group settings (either online or face-to-face) | GLO2: Communication GLO3: Digital literacy GLO6: Self-management GLO7: Teamwork |
| ULO5 | Engage in a simulated professional policy environment alongside other students with both competing and converging interests while acting on and understanding the interests of stakeholders at multiple levels. | GLO2: Communication GLO3: Digital literacy GLO5: Problem solving GLO6: Self-management GLO7: Teamwork |
Assessment
| Assessment Description | Student output | Grading and weighting (% total mark for unit) | Indicative due week |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment 1: Report - Position Paper | 1600 words or equivalent | 40% | Week 7 |
| Assessment 2: (Group and Individual) Model UN Simulation | 2400 words or equivalent | 60% | Ongoing |
Assessment
| Assessment Description | Student Output | Grading and Weighting (% total mark for unit) | Indicative Due Week |
|---|---|---|---|
The assessment due weeks provided may change. The Unit Chair will clarify the exact assessment requirements, including the due date, at the start of the teaching period.
Hurdle requirements
To be eligible to obtain a pass in this unit, students must achieve an overall mark of at least 50% in assessment task 2, Model UN Simulation to evidence a minimum proficiency in the aligned discipline learning outcomes included in this unit.
Learning resource
The texts and reading list for AIR349 can be found via the University Library.
Note: Select the relevant trimester reading list. Please note that a future teaching period's reading list may not be available until a month prior to the start of that teaching period so you may wish to use the relevant trimester's prior year reading list as a guide only.
Bring Your Own Device (BYOD)
To fully engage with Deakin's learning experiences, students must be able to access and use internet-connected devices as outlined in computing requirements at Deakin.
To support student success at Deakin, we have a bring-your-own-device (BYOD) learning environment that acknowledges that students and educators bring with them the digital tools they regularly use to complete academic tasks. These tools stay with you beyond the classroom, helping you to keep learning, explore ideas more deeply, and connect with knowledge in ways that matter to you.
Students requiring a loan device should visit our Loan Laptop webpage or students requiring longer-term assistance should visit our Student Financial Assistance webpage.
Unit fee information
Fees and charges vary depending on the type of fee place you hold, your course, your commencement year, the units you choose to study and their study discipline, and your study load.
Tuition fees increase at the beginning of each calendar year and all fees quoted are in Australian dollars ($AUD). Tuition fees do not include textbooks, computer equipment or software, other equipment or costs such as mandatory checks, travel and stationery.
For further information regarding tuition fees, other fees and charges, invoice due dates, withdrawal dates, payment methods visit our Current Students website.